Antigen‐coated immunoadsorbents utilized for in vivo depletion of antibodies and lymphocytes with specificity for the antigen

Abstract

Hyperacute rejection of xenografts is thought to be triggered by humoral antibodies. It is known that natural antibodies against dog blood cells have been identified in sheep serum. Dog kidney antigen immunoadsorbent columns were placed in the extracorporeal lymph circuit of two sheep. In vivo studies have shown that these immunoadsorbent columns were effective in depleting the thoracic duct lymph of all antibodies with specificity for the dog kidney antigen. However, these columns were not effective in depleting the thoracic duct lymphocytes bearing surface receptors for the dog kidney antigen. When in vitro studies were carried out, the immunoadsorbent columns were effective in the depletion of both lymphocytes and antibody for the dog kidney antigen. Thus, since a humoral antibody response is thought to be responsible for the hyperacute rejection seen in xenografts, it is possible that these columns might be effective in prolonging xenograft survival.